the Gift
If someone had looked at where I was 10 years ago, and told me exactly where I was now, I would have flat out told them "you are nucking futs - that will NEVER happen". I would've bet a whole shytload of cash that my life would've been headed in a different direction. Funny thing is, if I had made that bet then, I would've won.
Here's my gift to you, whoever you are: faithful reader, casual visitor, universe, God.
You (God willing) define who you are, and who you will become, with every minutiae of your being, your actions, your free will, and God's plan. Every step you take, of every day you live, you push yourself toward whatever it is you want to do/be. That's the gift. Some really wise person passed it on to me, and I didn't appreciate how huge it was when I received it. I'm not nearly as wise, but I appreciate it much more as I pass it on to you.
Seems really simple then, doesn't it? You can do whatever you want to do. You can be whomever you want to be. Just as long as you're willing to do what it takes to get to the end of that journey.
theInspiration:: I'm talking to Mia about going to an art show, and we're discussing appropriate boho-corp attire (the show is sponsored by Mercedes-Benz for heaven's sake). As I'm mentally scrolling thru my closet, with one eye on Fine Living's "Around the World in 80 Homes" trying to get ideas for theFrame - it hit me how far I've come in 10 years. Even 5 years. Holy Crap!
I've exceeded the plan I held for my life, the plan I'd had in mind for the longest period of my life. For years, I longed to poke my head above the poverty level, to just be able to pay all my bills, and not worry about utilities being shut off. Go to a store and buy clothes or shoes, and not have to stress about how I was going to feed my kids. To have a car. To have my own space that I didn't have to share. To be "edu-ma-cated". I...well I've gotten beyond all that. So much so, that I'm constantly setting new goals for myself that I'm striving for, before I even begin to appreciate the hurdle I just overcame.
My friend E just mentioned to me the other day, that I needed to mentally dwell in that space for a bit, so I can appreciate all I'm capable of. See, me & E go back to Atlanta Metro College, working at the DMV (yes, I was a disgruntled gov't employee) days. Answering-the-phone-for-Earthlink days. So he knows the saga before the blog, before the gig, before the degrees. E says even though I haven't changed much, I evolved enormously. Whateva that means...lol.
But I...I finally get it. When people say clichéd things like "you can be whateva you want to be", the most idealistic person will think "yeah, right". Again, God willing, I've been fortunate enough to find out for myself that it's true. It's as simple as setting a small goal, and then implementing a plan to reach it. Baby steps y'all for real. And please don't get it twisted...it's not as if I think I've hit the friggin Powerball, and landed in a mansion with a yacht. I'm just wishing that someone had told me this a long time ago, and wishing I'd taken it to heart, yanno?
So, Mia and I are going to hang out at the boho/chi-chi event, sip champage and laugh at the irony. We're both hoodrats still, not-so-deep down inside. We both know that the only thing that separates a hoodrat from the haute-couture is a plan. Don't ever dream small. Small dreams are shallow, and so easy to reach it makes big dreams seem unattainable. Dream big. Then, make the little dreams give your big dreams legs.